klunking while driving

[rwnolan]

In a separate problem from before -
1998 ford explorer, auto trans, 4 dr.

Once we start driving down the road - while accelerating or decelerating - there is a klunking noise that can be heard & felt through the feet. Noise appears to be from front area of vehicle - not sure of side (pass/Driv) Noise is NOT constant - only when vehicle body seems to change alignment from "normal". Sometimes when brakes are lightly depressed, sometimes when accelerating, usually when traveling over dips in the road. 99% of time vehicle has to be in motion.

Occasionally, while exiting this vehicle (properly stopped, engine off, in park) you can hear a klunk - one only. Mind you that the vehicle is parked, engine off, foot off brake, you are just exiting. The sound is too quick to localize. The only thing that is happening is that my body weight (200) is being removed by stepping out - so the Front end should be traveling up. Climbing in and out again will not reproduce the sound, only starting back up and driving get it going again.

My solution - turn up radio - wife solution - buy me a new car - I like my solution better - unfortunately .......

[zeke73]

Do u hear the clunking when you push down on the front end?? My 98 sport had clunking in the front end. When I pushed down on the front end you could clearly here it. I replaced the sway bar links and that cured the problem.

[rwnolan]

I thought I heard it klunk once or twice - a few days ago. But usually I hear the sloshing of the windshield wiper fluid. How did you figure out it was your sway bar?

[zeke73]

I looked under while a friend pushed up and down on the front end. The sway bar link the the piece that goes from the swaybar end to the lower control arm. look at the bushings that are on top and below the swaybar end. If you see any gap between the bushings and swaybar, the link needs to be replaced. The bushings should be pressed tight against the swaybar end.

[rwnolan]

Thank you - I'll check the next time I get an opportunity...